{{Short description|American businessman}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Barry S. Altman | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | native_name = | height = | birth_date = {{Birth based on age at death|63|2012|12|08}}<ref name="ZDNet_2013-01-17">{{cite web|last=Perlow |first=Jason |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/barry-altman-ceo-of-commodore-usa-passes-at-age-63/ |title=Barry Altman, CEO of Commodore USA, passes at age 63 |publisher=ZDNet |date=2013-01-17 |access-date=2020-08-12}}</ref> | birth_place = USA | death_date = {{Death date and given age|2012|12|08|63}}<ref name="legacy_memorial_event">{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sunsentinel/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=161620890 |title=Memorial event - Barry Altman |publisher=www.legacy.com |date=2012-12-09 |accessdate=2020-08-12}}</ref> | education = | occupation = Entrepreneur, CEO | known_for = Founded Commodore USA in 2010 and announced the Commodore 64x in partnership with Disney.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sauer |first=Abe |url=http://brandchannel.com/2011/04/07/disney-helps-reboot-commodore-and-amiga-brands/ |title=Disney Helps Reboot Commodore and Amiga Brands |website=Brandchannel.com |date=2011-04-07 |accessdate=2017-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.psfk.com/2011/04/disney-marketing-tie-in-brings-commodore-64-out-of-retirement.html |title=Disney Marketing Tie-In Brings Commodore 64 Out Of Retirement |publisher=PSFK |date= 7 April 2011|accessdate=2017-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/CommodoreUSA/posts/203708526314009 |title=Commodore USA - Commodore USA is proud to announce their... |publisher=Facebook |date=2011-04-03 |accessdate=2017-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/04/04/commodore-usas-all-new-c64-shown-looking-more-real-than-ever/ |title=Commodore USA's all new C64 finds a friend in Tron on the road to availability |website=Engadget.com |date= |accessdate=2017-03-01}}</ref> | title = | website = }}

'''Barry S. Altman''' was the founder and CEO of Commodore USA from 2010 until his death in late 2012. Prior to founding Commodore USA, Barry worked for over 20 years in the satellite and communications industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.commodoreusa.net/CUSA_Corporate.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919220312/http://www.commodoreusa.net/CUSA_Corporate.aspx |archivedate=2012-09-19 |title=Commodore USA |date=2012-09-19 |accessdate=2017-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Perlow |first=Jason |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-rebirth-of-commodore-usa-podcast/ |title=The rebirth of Commodore USA (Podcast) |publisher=ZDNet |date=2012-08-25 |access-date=2017-03-01}}</ref> During his time at Commodore USA, the Commodore 64x was announced and put up for pre-sales.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110407113245/http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/06/the-new-commodore-64-updated-with-its-old-exterior/ The New Commodore 64, Updated With Its Old Exterior] By Nick BILTON - The New York Times 2011-04-06 archive from ''bits.blogs.nytimes.com''</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/04/06/commodore-usa-puts-the-new-c64-up-for-pre-sales-unveils-far-les/ |title=Commodore USA puts the new C64 up for pre-sales, unveils far-less-retrotastic VIC-Slim |website=Engadget.com |date= |accessdate=2017-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/11/03/commodore-usa-goes-extreme-stuffs-a-2-2ghz-quad-core-i7-into-it/ |title=Commodore USA goes Extreme, stuffs a 2.2GHz quad-core i7 into its C64x |website=Engadget.com |date= |accessdate=2017-03-01}}</ref> On December 8, 2012, Barry died from a prolonged battle with cancer.<ref name="ZDNet_2013-01-17" />

==Early life== Barry Altman co-owned a telecommunications business called Cabletech in the 1970s and 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://anticusa.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/user88_pic663_1296952468.jpg?w=1024 |format=JPG |title=Home Satellite Marketing |website=Anticusa.files.wordpress.com |accessdate=2017-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oRwEAAAAMBAJ&q=barry+altman+cabletech&pg=PA17 |title=Network World |page=17 |date=1986-10-06 |accessdate=2017-03-01}}</ref> Barry was first introduced to computers through Cabletech in the 1980s, using Commodore 64s due to their generally low price and simplicity.<ref name="discreetfx1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20120522152401/http://www.discreetfx.com/CEOCommodoreUSAInterview.pdf CEO USA Interview] PDF (32 pages) 2012-04-16 archive from ''www.discreetfx.com''</ref> In 1991, Barry sold Cabletech, retired, and moved to Florida.<ref name="castfire1">{{cite web|url=http://cdn11.castfire.com/audio/6/17/110/1131884/commodore_2012-08-26-113124-15-0-0-0.64.mp3 |format=MP3 |title=Sound file |website=Cdn11.castfire.com |accessdate=2017-03-01}}</ref> In June 2004, Barry founded Homecraft, an importer and distributor of home furniture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizearch.com/company/Homecraft_LLC_97579.htm |title=Homecraft, LLC |website=Bizearch.com |date= |accessdate=2017-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/ConvertTiffToPDF?storagePath=COR\2004\0602\10532081.tif&documentNumber=L04000041245|title=Electronic Articles of Organisation : Homecraft, LLC|website=Search.sunbiz.org|accessdate=2017-03-01}}</ref>

==Commodore USA== On March 26, 2010, Barry Altman founded Commodore USA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/ConvertTiffToPDF?storagePath=COR\2010\0329\70229297.tif&documentNumber=L10000033511 |title=Electronic Articles of Organisation : Commodore USA, LLC |website=Search.sunbiz.org |accessdate=2017-03-01}}</ref> Commodore USA's first consumer product was a re-branded Cybernet Systems all-in-one keyboard PC.<ref name="castfire1"/> In 2011, Commodore USA began prototyping and injection molding an exact replica of the original Commodore 64, which was shortly thereafter noticed by the vice president of Disney, who wanted to set up a joint marketing venture between the Commodore 64x and TRON: Legacy.<ref name="castfire1"/><ref name="discreetfx1"/> According to Barry in an interview, Commodore USA received an unexpected amount of publicity and pre-orders for the Commodore 64x after the release of such advertisements, resulting in their credit card terminal even overheating on several occasions.

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Altman, Barry}} Category:2012 deaths Category:American businesspeople in the computer industry